Liza Hatton And Kristina Jelleme Appointed to Planning Commission

The Nantucket Planning and Economic Development Commission (NP&EDC) unanimously reappointed at-large member and Nantucket Land Bank chair Kristina Jelleme to a three-year term and selected real estate broker Liza Hatton to serve a one-year term at its meeting on Monday.

In her application, Jelleme emphasized her previous experience with the NP&EDC and her focus on the future. “Nantucket faces evolving challenges and opportunities in balancing preservation with progress, and I remain committed to fostering sustainable economic development while protecting our unique character and environment,” she wrote. “My passion for our island’s future, combined with my dedication to collaborative and informed decision making, makes me a highly motivated candidate for reappointment.”

Jelleme received the unanimous support of her fellow NP&EDC members over the other candidate, Conservation Commission member Joe Plandowski. Plandowski stressed his extensive professional and volunteer experience and education in his application.

“I believe my education and personal and business experiences qualify me as a candidate for the open At Large position on The NP&EDC,” he wrote. “Orderly and coordinated development is critical to this island. There is only so much land available, and a seemingly endless quest for housing. The roads are in poor shape, and the summer traffic endless. Careful and thoughtful planning is needed to have Nantucket survive as a great place to live.”

The NP&EDC also voted 7-2 to select Hatton to fill out the remainder of Wendy Hudson’s three-year term after Hudson left her position early. The other two candidates, Union Street resident Liz Coffin and Planning Board alternate Howard Matz, each received one vote, with Hillary Hedges Rayport backing Coffin and John Kitchener supporting Matz.

Hatton, who ran unsuccessfully against Rayport for a seat on the Planning Board earlier this year, is a member of the continuing education committee for the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, the Nantucket Builders Association, and the Sconset Civic Association.

“I have developed a comprehensive understanding of the island's infrastructure, including its roadways, traffic patterns, and bike paths, having resided in both Sconset and on Old South Road,” she wrote in her application. “My professional background as a full-time real estate broker, coupled with my construction supervisor's license and prior experience as a project manager with a general contractor, has equipped me with extensive knowledge in project management, budgeting, financing, planning, and land use. I am confident that my career has provided me with invaluable local insight, strong communication skills, and a meticulous attention to detail.”

Coffin focused on her experience in her Union Street neighborhood.

“My immediate neighborhood has changed so fast and in such a poor direction that I knew this had to be brought to the surface, looked at, and maybe this is the best place to do it,” she said. “Now it is noisy, confusing, impassable with traffic. There are so many problems.”

Matz, fending off concerns about his affiliation with the Planning Board—his election would have given them seven of the NP&EDC’s eleven seats—turned Commissioners’ attention to his lengthy experience, including knowledge of sewer, renewable energy, and electricity.

“I have done exactly what you guys are talking about. I have written these kinds of consulting reports, I have used these kinds of consulting reports, I have carved them up and kind of dissected them,” Matz said. “Enforcement on these kinds of decisions we make is kind of lax…I think our enforcement of our good ideas is not as good as it could be.”